The top 10 read articles on aBlogtoWatch this month include an eclectic mix of watches, which clearly shows the diverse interests of our readers. That said, there was definitely a greater interest in more affordable watches such as the new Seiko Prospex Lowercase Fieldmaster, the Citizen Signature Octavia, and the Monta Triumph. Considering the bang for the buck that these watches offer, it is not surprising at all. From the high-end, we have two luxury sports chronographs in the form of Audemars Piguet’s updated Royal Oak Chronograph and the Les Artisans De Genève & Kravitz Design LK 01 Customized Rolex Daytona.
From around the web, we take a look at Conor McGregor’s watch collection. While Conor might have lost his multi-million dollar bout with Mayweather, he can definitely take solace in knowing that he has a pretty cool watch collection. Elsewhere, we also dispel some myths surrounding dive watches, and also take a look at the Kaventsmann Hadal II Bronze watch – a watch that is rated to go as deep as 12,000 meters! Finally, we examine the concept of “soul” in an object as we ask ourselves; what exactly is it about watches that causes us to get excited about them in the way that we do?
1. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph Watch In Steel Hands-On
If you weren’t paying close attention, you might have missed out on the news that Audemars Piguet actually refreshed its Royal Oak Chronograph watches earlier this year. It might surprise you even more to learn that there are actually seven new models this year. Fans have clamored for an in-house chronograph movement from Audemars Piguet for years, but AP is still sticking to the good old caliber 2385 for these new models. The changes, therefore, are mostly cosmetic, but they result in a Royal Oak Chronograph watch that looks quite different from its predecessor. Find out what the changes are and get a closer look at one of the most popular luxury steel chronograph watches here.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
2. Omega CK2129 Watch In ‘Dunkirk’ Film & Omega’s Role In WW2
Director Christopher Nolan’s attention to detail is legendary, and that attention to detail can be seen clearly in his latest movie Dunkirk. Without giving too much away, Dunkirk tells the story of the Dunkirk evacuation during the Second World War. In it, Tom Hardy, who plays an RAF pilot, can be seen periodically referencing his watch during a mission. Eagle-eyed moviegoers have identified that watch as an Omega CK2129, which is incredibly apt because Omega reportedly supplied over half of all watches used by the British RAF during the Second World War. The CK2129, in particular, was also the most commonly worn Omega watch by RAF personnel in the Second World War. It is impressive that Dunkirk got this piece of detail spot on. This is the story of the Omega CK2129 and other Omega watches in the Second World War.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
3. Why Luxury Watches Are The Best Trophies
The hobby of watch collecting is interesting in a number of ways. Admittedly, all forms of collecting can be said to be superfluous – hardly anyone uses stamps today in the same way that very few people today actually rely on a watch to tell the time. Perhaps it is human nature and that our act of collecting is actually a form of hoarding and storing, something that our ancestors from long ago did. That said, watch collecting is worthy of extra attention mainly because of the costs involved. Luxury watches are, relatively speaking, incredibly expensive and to collect them goes against rational thinking, regardless of how wealthy you may be. One reason why we indulge ourselves in luxury watches can perhaps be attributed as a form of reward, or a trophy if you may, to ourselves. And if that is the case, then we would like to argue that luxury watches are actually excellent personal trophies to our own accomplishments.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
4. Citizen Signature Octavia Watch Hands-On
One of the most read hands-on articles this month was that of the Citizen Signature Octavia watch. It has a rather quirky eight-sided bezel and a handsome dial with incisive-looking hands and markers. Plus, it has a see-through display case back that shows off its movement (a big deal for many watch lovers), and it is also quite accessibly priced. Personally, I’m not a big fan of watches with cut-outs on the dial that reveal the balance wheel, but I can definitely understand why some readers might like it – it does add a lot more activity to the dial. If you are looking for an affordable, well-made watch that has a bit of quirkiness in its design, the Citizen Signature Octavia is worthy of consideration.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
5. Breitling Superocean Heritage Generation I Versus II Watch Review
Perhaps unknown to most people, the Breitling SuperOcean is actually one of earliest dive watches. It actually debuted in 1957 – only about 4 years after the Rolex Submariner. Here’s another interesting tidbit: Seiko, another brand that is closely associated with diving watches, only introduced their first dive watch 8 years later in 1965. Bearing the SuperOcean’s rich heritage in mind, I think the Breitling SuperOcean is quite underrated. All things considered, I think it actually makes for a very good first luxury watch. It is well-made, chronometer-certified, tough as nails, and a little out of the ordinary and rare.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
6. Seiko Prospex Fieldmaster Lowercase Watches
Seiko watches continue to be popular amongst other readers, and there was a lot of interest for Seiko’s new Prospex Fieldmaster Lowercase watches. Unless you are into Japanese culture, the name Lowercase might not mean anything to you. Very briefly, Lowercase is a Japanese design and creative consulting company that has worked with some of the biggest brands in the world like Nike, Disney, and Lego, to create campaigns in Japan. In any case, they have teamed up with Seiko to produce a series of limited edition Prospex Fieldmaster Lowercase watches. These watches combine classic field watch styling with a modern solar quartz movement and an attractive price tag. Little wonder then that it was one of the most read articles in August.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
7. Omega Speedmaster Racing Master Chronometer Watch Review
As much as I admired the technical qualities of the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch, I always felt that it was too bulky and cumbersome and that there was something about it that made it look not quite as balanced as the iconic Speedmaster Professional. I think many readers feel the same way too, but that didn’t stop Omega from releasing more models based on the newer Speedmaster Moonwatch. Fortunately, this year Omega released the Speedmaster Racing Master Chronometer. Based also on the Speedmaster Moonwatch, the Speedmaster Racing Master Chronometer has a tweaked case design that makes it appear slimmer, a racing-style dial with catchy orange accents, and a new METAS-certified Master Chronometer movement. If I were shopping for a new Speedmaster, I’ll give this a hard look.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
8. How And Why Monta Has Pivoted In A Major Way & Monta Triumph Field Watch Review
Watches under $5,000 continue to get a lot of attention and one of the most read articles this month was about Monta Watches. The name Monta might be alien to some of you, but I suppose most readers would have by now heard or read about Everest bands – especially if you are a Rolex owner. Monta is actually the watchmaking venture of the guys behind Everest Bands. The brand debuted with the Oceanking diver late last year and followed that up with the new Triumph field watch this year at Baselworld. It is a handsome watch for sure, with an attractive dial and a classic case. But perhaps more interesting is how the brand decided to make significant changes in pricing recently to make their offerings stand out more prominently. Find out why and check out the Monta Triumph field watch here.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
9. Les Artisans De Genève & Kravitz Design LK 01 Customized Rolex Daytona Watch Review
If we were to judge a watch based on its merits in construction and movement design, it is hard to fault any Rolex. Rolex watches are built extremely well and are known to offer many, many years of reliable service. However, not everyone is a fan of their styling. They are a bit meh, and it doesn’t help that so many people own them, which detracts from their exclusivity. Fortunately, we have watch customizers these days and one of the more interesting customized Daytona watches that I have seen is the LK 01 by Les Artisans De Genève & Kravitz Design. Les Artisans De Genève is a company that specializes in customizing new and vintage watches, while Kravitz Design is a design firm by musician Lenny Kravitz. What do you think of this Daytona?
Source: aBlogtoWatch
10. Confessions Of Serial Replica Watch Buyers
In 2016, China remained the largest exporter of watches in the world, having exported a staggering 652 million watches. Switzerland, in comparison, exported just over 25 million watches. Interestingly, the average price of an exported Swiss watch is $708. For the Chinese, that figure is an incredible $4. Needless to say, a countless number of these exported China watches are counterfeits. But why is the market for counterfeit watches thriving? Despite all the obvious negative aspects of counterfeits, why do so many people still buy them? Are people who buy fake watches just as fake as the watches that they buy? This article takes a deep look and attempts to shed some light.
Source: aBlogtoWatch